Fluid valve means



July 14f 1953 s. c. cHEssMAN 2,645,450

` FLUID VALVE MEANS Filed Nov. 26. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iff/@J fw#4INVENTOR. SAMUEL C. CHESSMAN A T wkn/fr l July 14, 1953 s. c. cHEssMANFLUID VALVE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV'. 26. 1948 ||I L \\L 1 I I.I

` INVENTOR. SAMUEL G. GHessMAN BY v ` AT/VEY Patented July 14, 1953FLUID VALVE MEANS Samuel C. Chessman, Salem, Ohio, assigner' to ,0. B.Hunt & Son, Inc.; Salem, Ohio, a corpo-V ration of Ohio ApplicationNovembefcs, 194sjsia1No. 62,013

My invention relates to igluid valve means, and the principal object ofmy invention is to provide new and improved valve means.

In present day design, numerous fluid systems require control valves ofspecial Vdesign to accomplish specific functions. In such cases, it hasheretofore been the practice to manuv claims. 1to1. 251416) facturespecial valves in individual or small 4 amount lots, but this -isexpensive, as will be appreciated, Vsince mass production methods cannotbe used. Further," even in the manufac ture of" standard valves of priorconstruction, vconsiderable expense was involved in the manufacture andassembly of the Valve, since the design of such valves did not permitmass production manufacture and assembly.

My invention makes it possible to manufa ture both standard and specialvalves on a mass production basis, thus increasing uniformity ofoperation and decreasing manufacturing costs.

My invention provides easily assembleable, replaceable andinterchangeable valveparts, certain of which carry their own sealingmeans and` which may be assembled in any one of a number of relations.

In'the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application, there is shown, for purpose of illustration, anembodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1` is a longitudinal section through a` valve showing anembodiment of my invention,

Figures 2 and 3 Tare enlarged sectional views of parts used in theconstruction shown in Figurel,

Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views through valves ofdifferent types, showing the embodiment of my invention, and

Figure 6 is an elevationalview `cfa still different type of valve.

The valveshown in Figure 1 isra` normallyf closed, manually operable,three-wayuid valve I9` extending into the be mass-produced. The plug 2bore proper a predetermined amount for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed.

Eachof the plugs I6 and Il has a centralV .opening 20, providing abearing for an axially movable plunger 2|, the exterior surface of4 theplunger being spaced from the surface of the `bore II. The plugs I6 andI1 are generally similar in over-all construction, so that they may IIS`additionally has a series of inclined exhaust apertures 22` positionedabout `the central opening 20, each aperture establishing fluidcommunication between the atmosphere and a chamber 23 formed in the plugI6. The chamber 23 is terminated at the inner extremity of the plug bymeans of a tapered annularV wall 24 adjoining the planoextremity I9.

The plunger 2l comprises a cylindrical `body 25 having openings 26 and2'I`extending inwardly from opposite ends, but stopping short of eachother to provide the dividing wall 28. A plug 29, securely `fixed inposition, closes the endof opening 26, and anoper-ating handle 30,secured in position to close the end ofthe opening 21, extends outwardlyof the body I0 and terminates in an enlarged head 3 I. A coil spring 32isinterposed between the head 3l and the adjacent end of the body, tourge the plunger 2| to the right, as viewed in Figure l, a distancedefined by abutment of the plug 29 with the opposite end `of the bodyI0. The plunger, at the opening 26, has spaced apart sets of openings 33and 34, and at the opening 21 has spaced-apart sets of openings 35 and36, for a purpose later to appear. I

Separatormeans are radially. interposed between the plunger 2I and theadjacent surface,

`and in the valve construction shown in Figure `21,1` such separatormeans comprise a pair of` members 3l and'38, best seen in Figures2 and3. `The separator member 3I comprises a sleevelike body havinga pair ofexterior annular ribs 39, facing surfaces of which are inclined towardforming shoulders I5 which are positioned `in I predetermined relationwith respect to the inlet and outlet openings I2, I3. Plugs I6 and I'Iclose respective ends of the bore II, each plug having a Vscrew-threadedportion I8 threaded into the enlargements I4, and also having areduced`portion forming a shoulder Aabutting` a respective shoulder I5, and aplano-extremity 6 munication between the spaces 40 and 42.

each other to form an annular space 40 adapted to communicate witheither the inlet or outlet opening, and in the construction hereinshown, this member communicates with the outlet opening I3. Theseparator member 31 also has Ea pair of internal annular ribs 4I whichtaper inwardly to a featheredy edge so as to somewhat accurately definea space 42 therebetween.

Intermediate the ribs 39-39 and 4I'-4I, the

sleeve-like body is formed with a series of aperable construction,yandin the construction disclosed it has been found desirable to usecommercially available O-ring packings.

The separator member 38 is somewhat similar to the member 31, in that ithas external ribs 45-46, internal ribs 41-41 respectively similar to theribs 39-39 and 4I-,4I. Thus, external and internal spaces 48 andA 49 areformed, and although the external space 48 may vary slightly in size ascompared to the space 40, it is to be noted that the length of the space49 is substantially equal to the length of the space 42'. The member 38has apertures" 59 establishing communication between the spaces 48, 49,and also has an vaxially extending annular rib I which provides recessesfor the sealing members 52, 53. Instead of a planosurface at theopposite end of member 38, an axially extending rib 54 is provided atthis end, this rib being similar to the rib 5I, thus providing recessesvfor sealing -members 55, 56. Because of the ribs 5I, 54, the member- 38is greater in axial length as compared with the length of the member 31.A

lThe Vseparator members are assembled with the other parts of the valveconstruction at a time when only one of the plugs I8, l1 has beenthreaded to proper position.

In the construction shown, the operating handle 39 comprises a plug 51which is securely fixed in the opening 21 and which is received within arecess formed in a boss 58 extending from the head 3I. A bolt 59 is usedto secure the head 3l to the plug 51. Accordingly, it is preferable,

although not essential, that the plug I6 is threaded-intothe body III toposition predetermined by abutment with the shoulder I5 before assemblyof the separatorzmembers, and the plug I1.

The separator members may then be inserted through the open end of thebore I I opposite theplug I6 and slid axially of such bore, so that' thebore I I, so that its rib 5I engages the surface I9 of the plug I6, andthe separator member 31 may then be moved to assembly with itsplanosurface 44 abutting the rib 54 of the separator member 38. 5I and54 are substantially of the same axial length, and since the spaces40--48 and 42-49 would be in the same relative position with respect tothe inlet and' outlet-openings in the body I8. Thus, it will beappreciated that the spaces 42 and 49 of the separator members cothe`first inserted member bearsagainst the planosurface I9 of the plug I8and the other;

The`

member abuts the first inserted member. other plug I1 may then bethreaded to position wherein its surface I9 abuts the adjoiningseparator member, and the plunger 'may be inserted from the rleft handside (Figure 1) Vof the body and the spring 32 and head assembled bymeans of the bolt 59.

In Figure 1, the separator member 31 was first inserted, s0 that Vitsrib 45 engages the suroperate with the plunger 2l to form axiallyspacedvalve ports at a predetermined location regardless of which one of theseparator members is assembled rst, and that each port is out ofcommunication with space 42 of member 31, to seal against exhaustandapertures 35 of plunger 2l will communicate with space 42 ot separatormember 31 whereas apertures 36 will still communica-te with space 49 ofseparator member 38, so as to establish communication between openingsI2 and I3.

The valve shown in Figure 4; is of the double y pilot-operated three waytype, with sealed exhaust, that is, with connection to pipe olf theexhaust. As herein shown, the valve body 6I is provided with an inletopening 62, an outlet opening 63, and an exhaust opening B4.

bore 55, with the exception of being longer, is,

The

substantially similar to the bore I I hereinbefore plates 68 areinterposed between these plugs and the shoulders in the bore, so thatpistons 69 secured to opposite ends ofthe plunger 10 Ymay reaclily beaccommodated. Each of the plugs 66,

61 has a threaded aperture 1I for attachment of a fluid operating line,aswill be appreciated.

In the construction shown in Figure 4, three separatonmembers areused,twobeingof `the type shown in Figure 2, and designated by fthe referencenumeral 31, and one being of the type shown in Figure 3, and designatedby the referencre. numeral 38. Asshown lin this figure, the separator'member 38 is interposed between the members 31, but as will be obviousfrom the pre-iii 4ceding description, this relation is :not essential,

and the member 38. may bedisposed at either end. plunger, and theaperturesleading to such opening lwill be changed with respect to likevparts in Athe valve shown in Figurel', to accomplish the inpredetermined relation. It will be noted that I sealing members aredisposed at both ends of the bore II, so that such ends are sealedagainst leakage of fluid.

With my improved construction it is lnot essential to exactly follow thehereinbefore deintended uid control functions.

The Valve shown in vFigure 5 is of the four-way f As herein shown, thebody 15 is provided with an inlet opening 15, two outlet openings 11,and two exhaust openings .18.

push-pull operated type.

The bore 19 is similar to the bore II'of valve shown in Figure 1, Withthe-exception of being correspondingly longer. Plugs I1a, similartothelplugs I1 heretofore described, are used to close In this particularcase, `I four separator members 31 and one separator.. member '38 areused7 with `the separator member 38 being located at the centerposition. However, `i here again, the exact disposition ofthe-member lboth ends of the bore.

This is permissible since all ribs 45,

In this type of valve, the opening in the v 38`With respect to themembers 3! isnot of `great importance, since if its disposition werechanged from that shown, the ends'of the valve bore would still besealed and the valve would function as intended. The plunger 80 willoperate as a bal-` anced spool and will remain in any one of itspositions. Of course, the plunger will be formed With openings andapertures, as shown, in order to perform the necessary valving action.

By using the same valve body l5 and separators 3l, 38, as is shown inFigure 5, and merely changing the plunger openings and apertures, theValve shown in Figure 5 may be converted, as shown in Figure 6, to onehaving twouid inlets 8l and 82 respectively communicable with two iiuidoutlets 83 and 84, with both outlets communicable with a common exhaustoutlet 85.

Thus, it will be appreciated that by proper choice of valve body,plunger, and combination of separator members 3'5 and 38, a valve tosuit any requirement may be made. Further, assembly time is considerablyreduced since each separator member carries its ovvn sealing means andthe members may be assembled in more than one predetermined relation.Also, in the event any of the seals should Wear after considerableusage, it is a simple matter to replace the seals or to replace theentire separator. Accordingly, the separator members may be accuratelymade in quantities and used in any type of valve in combinations asdictated by requirements.

A further advantage inherent in my invention Yis that the sealing means,such as the O ring packings herein shown, are heldin operative relationwithout being subjected to stress applied by holding means. Also, thepackings in valves made in accordance with my invention are sopositioned that no load is transmitted from one packing to another byvirtue of pressure existing in some remote chamber. As will `beclearfrom this disclosure, the individual packings only carry the stressactually developed by pressure in their respective chambers.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatI have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention, andit also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodimentherein described may be variously changed and modified, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention iscapable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described,hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment isillustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

l. A valve assembly for use with any one of a number of valve bodieswhich have bores similar except for extent and have abutment meansdefining a fixed position along said bore and .have varied number ofspaced-,apart iiuid inlet and outlet openings in predetermined relationwith respect to said abutment means, comprising a valve plunger movableaxially of said bore, and i ment and the first inserted member rigidlyand directly abutting said abutment means, and seal.- ing meansassociated with said insert members for sealing against fiuid passagealong said plunger and the valve body bore, each of said insert membersforming a valve chamber in part defined by said bore and partly dened bysaid plunger, said chambers beingicooperable with the respective inletand outlet openings of said selected valve body, said abutment means andinsert members and fluid inlet and outlet openings being correlated sothat said number of insert members may be inserted into the bore of saidselected valve body to produce a valve of predetermined type.

2. A valve assembly for use with any one of a number of valve bodieswhich have bores similar except for extent and have abutment meansdefining a fixed position alongsaid bore and have varied number ofspaced-apart fluid inlet and outlet openings in predetermined relationwith respect to said abutment'means, comprising a valve plunger movableaxially of said bore, and a plurality of apertured sleeve-like insertmembers forming an opening through which said valve plunger ivorlrs,said members being successively insertable from an end of the bore of aselected valve body and of a number to correspond to the inlet andoutlet openings of said selected body, adjoining ones of said membersbeing in rigid and direct end-to-end interabuti ting engagement and oneend of the r'st inserted members forming a valve chamber in part denedby said bore and in part defined by said plunger,

said chambers being cooperable with the respec-v tive inlet and outletopenings of said selected valve body, said abutment means and insertmembers and fluid inlet and outlet openings being correlated so thatsaid number of insert members` may be inserted into the bore of saidselected valve body in various successive relations to produce a valveof predetermined type.

3. Valve means comprising a` valve body having a bore and fluid inletand outlet openings, a plurality of apertured sleeve-likeaxially-arranged insert members disposed in abutting end-to-end relationin said bore, certain of said insert members having an annular ribformed at each end and certain other of said insert members having anannular rib formed at one end and a plane surface formed `at the otherend adapted to be engaged by an annular rib of an adjoining insertmember, a valve plunger movable axially through the opening formed bysaid insert members, and sealing means associated with said insertmembers for sealing against fluid passage along said plunger and alongsaid bore.

4. Valve means comprising a valve body having a bore and fluid inlet andoutlet openings, a plurality of apertured sleeve-like axiallyarrangedinsert members disposed in abutting end-to-end relation in said bore,certain of said insert members having an annular rib formed at each endand providing inner and outer annular pockets at each end and certainother of said insert members having an annular rib formed at one end andproviding inner and outer annular pockets at such end and havinga planesurface formed at the other end adapted to be engaged by an lannular ribof an adjoining insert member, a valve plunger movable axially throughthe opening formed by said insert members, and sealing means disposed inthe inner and outer annu-` lar pockets of said insert members forsealing against fluid passage along said plunger and along said bore. Y.

`5. Valve means comprisinga valve body having a bore and spaced fluidopenings communicating therewith, a plurality of rigid sleeve-likeinsert members disposed in mechanically pressed abut- Ating end-to-endrelation longitudinally of said bore, a ported valve plunger movablethrough said insert members, adjoining insert members having abuttingsurfaces disposed normal to the longitudinal aXis of said bore torigidly position said members in said bore to absorb the mechanicalholding pressure without exerting transverse thrust against the adjacentsurfaces of said bore and said plunger, anda pair- 0f concentric sealingrings for each insert member, the outer of said rings being disposedbetween said insert member and said valve body to seal against fluidpassage along said bore, the inner of said rings being disposed betweensaid insert member and said valve plunger to seal against fluid passagetherebetween, said sealing rings being positioned free from pressure ofthe abutting surfaces of said adjoining insert members and thereby beingfree of any mechanical pressure maintaining said members in end-to-endrelation, each of said insert members being apertured to provide forfluid flow from one valve body fluid opening through the ported valveplunger and thence to another fluid opening in said body.

6. Valve means comprising a valve body having a bore and spaced uidopenings, a plurality of rigid sleeve-like insert members disposed andmechanically pressed in aligned abutting endto-end relationlongitudinally of said bore, a ported valve plunger movable through saidinsert members, adjoining insert members having rigidly interabuttingportions which firmly transmit mechanical pressure from one to theother, each of said insert members having recesses disposed on oppositesides: of the portion thereof Which abuts with an adjoining member, apair of concentric sealing rings for each insert meme ber, the outerring being disposed between said insert member and said valve body toseal against uid passage along said bore, the inner ring being disposedbetween said insert member and Vsaid valve plunger to seal against fluidpassage therebetween, said sealing rings being positioned in respectiverecesses so as to be free from pressure of respective abutting portionsof said adjoining insert members and thereby being free of anymechanical pressure maintaining said members in aligned end-to-endrelation, each of said insert members being apertured to provide forfluid ow from one valve body fluid opening through the ported valveplunger and thence to References Cited in the le of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,907 Zinn Oct. 20, 1896 767,732Bromley Aug. 16, 1904 863,405 Koelkebeck Aug. 13, 1907 2,442,642 EckelJune 1, 1948 2,445,855 Majneri July 27, 1948 2,492,006 Raybould Dec. 20,1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,041 Great Britain of 1891

